Should You Do a Discipleship Training School?

You may have just graduated and have a couple options in front of you but aren’t sure which one will help you get the most out of your life. Maybe you’re at a crossroads, or a tipping point, or feeling like you need some change. Maybe you’ve always had a desire to do missions but were never sure of how to go about it. Maybe you just became a Christian and are wanting to know God better. Deciding what to do next with your life can be an extremely scary process. Don’t feel like you have to go to college or get a job, just because everyone else is doing it.

If you’re considering a DTS but haven’t said “yes” yet, here are some questions to ask yourself:

1. Do I seek adventure and dream of traveling to new places?

Imagine: you’re sitting in an airport terminal with 11 people you’ve only known for 3 months they you hear on the loud speaker, “now boarding all zones for flight 3377 to…” where would you want to be going? Bali, Indonesia? Frankfurt, Germany? Rio de Janeiro, Brazil? I think we all really want adventure but aren’t sure how to satisfy that need. In God, both the need for safety and the need to take risk are fully met. A DTS is all about stepping out experiencing both. Whether it’s going into a South Asian village where no one has heard the Gospel, or even trusting the Lord to provide money for another plane ticket; being a part of God’s plan is exciting! Doing a DTS is dangerous, because your life will be forever changed, but, it’s worth it.

2. Am I in a transition period and not sure what’s next?

A DTS is also a good place to learn about your purpose. Many Christians come to do a DTS because they aren’t sure what God has for them. It’s only a five month commitment and often helps bring clarity to what your next steps should be. In your DTS, you will spend your time learning about God and growing in your relationship with Him. As you learn about who God is, you will learn how He has created you and thus, have a better idea of what you were created for (AKA: your purpose!).

3. Could I benefit from taking a few months to focus on the Lord with everything else pushed to the side?

Perhaps you don’t think you are called to missions. You may even know exactly where you want to go in life. That’s totally cool! But, it’s no surprise to us that many societal norms seem counter to what the Bible teaches. Do you feel strong enough to face the ways of the world on your own? When we’re living under our parents, we have set guidelines and rules they ask us to follow. What happens when you don’t have those any more? Are you shotgunning beers at parties because your friends are encouraging it? Can you say ‘no’ when nobody else is? Do you make the choices you make because you don’t want to be in trouble? A DTS is designed specifically to help you learn how to walk out a life-style of obedience to the word of God, not just what everyone is telling you to do. You will learn how to live your faith for yourself and solidify the faith that you do have so when you go into whatever is next, you’re less likely to just give into what people are telling you to do. Hopefully, you will be be confident in doing what’s right… and not just because it’s what you’ve been told.

4. Do I want to do something that matters and make an impact on the world?

There’s this paradox today where we feel an incredible desire to make a difference in the world yet an overwhelming feeling that we can’t at the same time. The most important thing that could ever happen to a person is them realizing their need for a Savior, and then meeting the one who is the Savior– Jesus! During DTS, you will learn how to be effective in sharing God’s story and your own. You will spend time ministering to the local community in Louisville as well as overseas on your outreach. You were made for a glorious purpose. It’s only through relationship and obedience to God that you can experience the fullness of it.

You were made for a glorious purpose. It’s only through relationship and obedience to God that you can experience the fullness of it.

5. Do I love God?

This question is the kicker. Why? Because if you’re going to live for you, the rest of this article isn’t relevant, but, if you’re going to live for God, the choices you make aren’t going to look like what everyone else’s. When you’re a follower of Christ, you make decisions off of what will bless His heart, not yours. Followers of Jesus give themselves to Him and their whole lives reflect this. Are you basing your life decisions off of what seems to be the appropriate next steps, or what you think your destiny is? If you’re not sure if you really love the Lord, think about that before making a choice. It’s not rocket science though, so don’t over think it! Can you pinpoint a time in your life when you decided you wanted to say yes to God and everything He has for you? That’s proof of your love for the Lord. Are you willing to let your love for the Lord effect every other area of your life?

Are you basing your life decisions off of what seems to be the appropriate next steps, or what you think your destiny is?

If you found yourself answering “yes” to any of the above questions, I’d challenge you to say “yes” to doing a DTS. Do you know what God has planned for you? Most of us, if we’re honest, aren’t sure. We have ideas of super cool awesome things we could do for God, but have failed to actually ask Him if that’s what He wants us to do. Don’t just go to college, get a job or even do a Discipleship Training School because it is a good idea. Ask God to show you what He has for you. He’s going to show you in the way that’s going to make sense to you, so you don’t have to overthink it.